Kingfisher

[Ollokot]

Hi Folks,
Have recently been watching a pair of kingfisher's but the weather hasn't been to good,howeverI was able to get a few shots the other morning before one man and his dog frightened them off.I have croped to give a portrait orientation but am not sure that it works.I would be most appreciative of your critique and comments.
Best Wishes Pat,

[chris h]

good capture of a great bird,pity about foreground but well worth getting up that early
Chris

[Splatsworth]

I've been after a shot of Kingfishers for ages so I am very jealous, lovely captures of a lovely bird, nice one

[RockNGoalStar]

It's one of my favourite birds and I too am very jealous that you managed to get so close to them. They are magnificent.

As for the crop, could you post the uncropped images? I think I'd get rid of some of the foreground concrete and perhaps give a bit of room to the right and top, where the bird is looking / facing. I just feel the bird needs a little bit more room in which to 'breathe'.

Great sharpness! Thanks for sharing!

[Geoff F]

I think, Pat, I would try cropping the first one very slightly to reduce a bit of the top and left side.

Personally, I don't mind the concrete as it gives a new twist to the classic kingfisher shots.

I sometimes see them on the local fish quay pontoon, or flying past, but I have yet to photography one. The trouble is they always see me at the same time I see them. So they are gone before I even think about a photo.

[mstrozewski]

Those are beautiful birds and lovely captures. The colors are bold, did you boost the saturation?

[jeeperman]

I too am jealous, hard little bird to find around here and super wary and quick! Nice job. I agree with the crops suggested above so I will leave you with this....if another chance arises being it sounds as if you have a pair that you watch regularly.....try to get a little lower, the first shot is close but I think cropping and getting the room needed may be easier if you were to get a little lower angle. I know easier said than done. As they are, fantastic color and spot on for sharp. Beautiful!

I am not dicounting the fact that you did get low....just a little lower I think.

[tameigh]

I like the mossy concrete with the orange. Maybe a little over saturated. I would also like to see the uncropped picture.

[jamn4ex]

beautiful work Pat! I stay jealous.

[Ollokot]

Many thanks to you all for your input and comments.With regard to the question of saturation I applied an overall amount of +10which is the kind of standard I think, maybe a bit too much for these.As the shots were being taken I had in mind that the images would be cropped.Here they are straight out of camera with no pp applied.Best Wishes,Pat

[WJT]

Great shots Pat, do you know the species? They look a little like our Azure Kingfishers down under. I'd crop them a little less myself and keep them in a landscape. It would be good to see the comparison.

[Benjy]

great shots Pat,been trying for months to get a half decent photograph of Kingfisher but just can not get close enough as they always zoom off as soon as there is any movement,well done....